Apparatus for marking cylindrical articles



March 21,, E967 F. c. WORTH 35509 986 APPARATUS FOR MARKING CYLINDRICALARTICLES Filed May 28, 1.964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 11m um? INVENTOR.

Mamh 2i W5? F. c. WQRTH fi a APPARATUS FOR MARKING CYLINDRICAL ARTICLESFiled ma 28, 3.964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent OfiicePatented Mar. 21, 1967 3,309,986 APPARATUS FOR MARKING CYLINDRICALARTICLES Francis C. Worth, Ridgewood, N.Y., assignor to Adolph Gottscho,Inc., Hillside, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed May 28, 1964, Ser.No. 371,046 13 Claims. (Cl. 1101-39) This invention relates generally toapparatus for applying markings or patterns of ink or other liquids tothe surfaces of cylindrical articles, suchas, cans and the like.

The need frequently arises to apply inked impressions, such as, codemarks, or patterns of other liquids, such as, adhesive, to the surfacesof cans or other cylindrical articles as such articles roll alonghorizontal, inclined, or vertical conveyor surfaces. Such a needparticularly arises, for example, in the case of cans being conveyedfrom a labeling machine where wrap-around labels are applied to the canand it is desired to provide a code mark, preferably in the form of aninked impression, to the label extending around each can. Existingapparatus for elfecting the marking of cans and the like usuallyincludes a rotatable marking or die wheel carrying one or more markingelements on its periphery and being turned either by a positive drive orby frictional engagement with the articles to be marked so that themarking element effects rolling and marking contact with the surface ofeach of the successive conveyed articles. Further, such existingapparatus includes an inking system in the form of an inking rollerturnable about a stationary axis and applying ink to the raised surfacesof the marking element or elements upon rotation of the die wheel, and arelocating or returning mechanism operative, upon disengagement of thedie wheel from an article which has been marked, to return the die wheelto its initial position in preparation for the marking of the nextarticle on the conveyor.

The above described existing apparatus is disadvantageous in that,whether rotation of the die wheel is effected by frictional engagementwith the conveyed article or positively by independent means,d-ifiiculty is experienced in ensuring that, at the moment of markingcontact, the peripheral speed of the marking element on the die wheelwill be exactly equal to the speed of movement at the surface of thearticle which is being marked, thereby to avoid blurring of theimpression applied to the article. Further, the necessity of providingthe apparatus with a relocating or other mechanism for ensuring that thedie wheel will be positioned for marking contact with each of thesuccessive conveyed articles tends to complicate the structure, andthereby increase the cost and possibility of mechanical failure of theapparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatusof relatively simple construction which is operative to mark cylindricalarticles with impressions of ink or other liquids as such articles rollalong a hori- Zontal, inclined or vertical conveyor surface.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the described characterwhich is driven or operated by the cylindrical article rolling along aconveyor surface, and wherein the parts of the apparatus actually movedby the conveyed article are of relatively small combined mass so as toavoid appreciable interference with the travel of the cylindricalarticles.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, an apparatus forapplying impressions of ink or other liquids to successive cylindricalarticles rolling along a conveyor surface comprises a die element havingan operative or raised surface with a configuration conforming to thatof the desired impression to be applied and being supported with itsoperative surface substantially co-planar with the conveyor surface sothat, as each article rolls along the conveyor surface past the dieelement, the article effects rolling contact with the operative surfaceof the die element, a plurality of spaced apart, rotatable transferrollers mounted for movement along a closed path having a portionextending past the die element so that, as each roller moves along suchportion of the closed path, the roller efi'ects rolling contact with theoperative surface of the die element, a liquid supplying memberextending along another portion of the closed path remote from the firstment oned portion for rolling engagement by each transfer roller as thelatter moves along such other portion of the closed path, thereby toapply liquid to the roller, and means effecting the movement of therollers along the closed path in synchronism with the rolling of thecylindrical articles along the conveyor surface so that each articlepassing the die element is preceded by a roller which transfers to theoperative surface liquid previously received from the liquid supplyingmember for application, by the die element, to the cylindrical articlewhich next rolls past the die element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the die element is carriedby a stationary bod mounted adjacent the conveyor surface so that theoperative surface of the die element projects through an opening in theconveyor surface for rolling engagement by the successive cylindricalarticles, and the means for effecting the movement of the transferrollers along the closed path is constituted by a star wheel rotatableabout an axis extending through the body carrying the die element andhaving radial arms dimensioned to project through the opening of theconveyor surface for driving engagement by the successive cylindricalarticles rolling along the conveyor surface. Further, in such preferredembodiment, the transfer rollers are rotatably supported by the arms ofthe star wheel and yieldably urged radially inward with respect to theaxis of the latter so as to roll on the circumference of the body whichthereby defines the configuration of the closed path followed by thetransfer rollers.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for supplyingink or other liquid to the transfer rollers includes a pad also carriedby the body which supports the die element and formed of a micro-porous,micro-reticulated thermoplastic resin impregnated with ink or otherliquid. In another practical construction embodying the invention, themeans for supplying ink includes a porous pad extending along therelated portion of the closed path of the transfer rollers, but arrangedat the outside of such closed path, a reservoir containing a supply ofink or other liquid and a wick extending upwardly from the reservoir andconnected to the porous pad for conducting ink or other liquid to thelatter.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of this invention for applying inked, or other liquidimpressions to successive cylindrical articles rolling along a conveyorsurface;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 on FIG. 2, but on anenlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 44 on FIG. 1, buton an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showinganother embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the embodimentillustrated by FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, it will be seen that an apparatus embodying this invention andgenerally identified by the reference numeral 10 is there shown employedfor the purpose of applying impressions of a liquid substance, forexample, inked markings, to successive cans or other cylindricalarticles 12a, 1217, etc. as such articles roll along a conveyor surface14. The conveyor surface 14 may be defined by an elongated plate or pairof rails 16 with longitudinal fences 18 at the sides for guiding thesuccessive articles, and having an opening 20, at least at the locationwhere the rolling articles are to be marked or imprinted by theapparatus 10.

The conveyor surface 14 along which the cylindrical articles roll duringmarking or imprinting by the apparatus 10 may be horizontal, as shown,or inclined or vertical. Particularly when the surface 14 is steeplyinclined or vertical, the successive cans or cylindrical articles areheld securely against the conveyor surface by means of conveyor belts 22running around suit able pulleys (not shown) so as to have runsextending parallel to surface 14 and engaging the tops of the cans orcylindrical articles. When the conveyor surface 14 is horizontal, asshown, the belts 22 can be suitably driven, for example, in thedirection of the arrow 24 on FIG. 1, for the purpose of effecting thedesired rolling movement of the cans or other cylindrical articles alongthe conveyor surface.

The illustrated apparatus 10 embodying this invention includes asupporting structure made up of a pair of elongated angle members 26extending along the opposite sides of opening at the bottom of theelongated plate 16, that is, at the side of the plate 16 opposed to theconveyor surface 14. Each of the angle members 26- is supported from theplate 16 by means of bolts 28 extending loosely through holes 30 in thehorizonal, laterally outwardly directed fl-ange or leg of the member 26adjacent the ends of the latter, and being screwed into tapped bores inplate 16. Compression springs 32 are provided on the bolts 28 betweenthe heads of the latter and the laterally directed flanges of members 26for yieldably urging the latter against plate 16. An axle 34 ('FIG. 4)extends laterally between angle members 26 and has threaded endssecured, as by nuts 36, in holes formed centrally in the vertical legsof the angle members.

A generally cylindrical body 38 is secured, as by a set screw 40 (FIG.3), on the axle 34 so as to extend into the opening 20. The portion ofbody 38 extending into opening '20 is flattened, as at 42, and formedwith a recess 44 which receives a block 46 carrying a rubber marking ordie element 48. The block 46 with its marking element 48 is secured inrecess 44 by suitable means, for example, by set screws 50 extendingthrough body 38 into the recess 44. The various parts are dimensioned sothat, when angle members 26 engage the underside of plate 16, as shown,the flat or planar raised surface of the die element 48 is parallel tothe plane of the conveyor surface 14 and slightly above the latter, asshown on FIG. 3. Thus, as each of the successive oans or cylindricalarticles 12a, 12b, etc., rolls along conveyor surface 14 over opening20, the surface of the can effects rolling contact with the raised oroperative surface of the type element 48 and pushes the latter more orless toward the plane of the conveyor surface 14 against the force ofsprings 32 to ensure uni-form contact of the die element with each ofthe successive cans.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a star wheel 52 made up of two sidemembers 54 rotatably mounted on axle 34 at the opposite sides of thebody 38. The side members 54 have laterally aligned or paired arms 56extending radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation of thestar wheel and dimensioned so that the ends of the arms 56 move along acircular path extending 4 through the opening 20 and projectingsubstantially into the path of rolling movement of the cans or articles12a, 12!), etc., along the conveyor surface 14. The arms 56 of each sidemember 54 are equally angularly spaced from each other and arepreferably at least four in numher, as shown. Thus, each of the cans orcylindrical articles rolling along conveyor surface 14 over body 38engages a laterally aligned pair of the arms 56 projecting beyond theconveyor surface and drives such arms before it so as to turn star wheel52 through an angle of approximately 90. As one pair of laterallyaligned arms 56 is moved to a position below the plane of conveyorsurface 14 by the action of a can engaged therewith, for example, thecan 12a on FIG. 1, the next pair of arms 56 projects beyond conveyorsurface 14 substantially at right angles thereto, and thus is positionedfor driving engagement by the next can 1% without the possibility thatthe successive cans will cause jamming of the star wheel.

As shown on FIG. 1, the edges of the arms 56 which are engaged by thesuccessive cans or cylindrical articles during driving by the latter ofthe star wheel 52 may be arcuate, as at 58, so that, at the instant ofinitial contact of a can with the arms 56, a plane tangent to the pointsof contact will extend approximately perpendicular to the conveyorsurface 14, and thereby most effectively convert the movement of thecans along the conveyor surface into rotation of the star wheel.

In order to apply a liquid, for example ink, to the operative or raisedsurface of die element 10, the apparatus 11) further comprises aplurality of transfer rollers 60 extending laterally between the alignedor paired arms 56 of star wheel 52 for movement along a closed patharound the body 38 in response to rotation of the star wheel. Eachtransfer roller 60 is freely rotatable on a shaft 62 having end portionsslidable in radially elongated slots 64 formed in the arms 56. Tensionsprings 66 are received in grooves 68 extending radially inward fromslots 64 and have their opposite ends connected to the end portions ofthe related shaft 62 and to anchor pins 70 secured in the inner endportions of groove 68. Thus, the transfer rollers 60 are movableradially with respect to the axis of rotation of star wheel 52 and areurged radially inward by the springs 66 to ride on the circumference ofbody 38 which thereby defines the configuration of the closed pathfollowed by the transfer rollers during rotation of the star wheel.

The body 38 is preferably formed with circumferential or peripheralbearer rims 72 adjacent its opposite sides, and the transfer rollers 61?are formed with end portions 74 engageable with the bearer rims 72 so asto effect rotation of the transfer rollers 60 about their shaft 62 uponmovement of the transfer rollers along the closed path extending aroundbody 38. It should be noted that the die element 48 i located betweenbearer rims 72 which, at the flat portion 42 of the body 38, areprovided with similarly flat or straight sections. Thus, as eachtransfer roller 60 rolls along the straight sections of bearer rims 72appearing at the top of body 38 in the illustrated arrangement, thetransfer roller 60 effects rolling contact with the raised or operativesurface of die element 48.

In accordance with this invention, ink or other liquid is supplied toeach of the transfer rollers 60 as the roller moves along a portion ofthe closed path remote from the die element 48. In the apparatus 10, theink or other liquid supplying means is constituted by a pad 76 of aplastic resin having a micro-porous, micro-reticulated structureimpregnated with ink or other liquid, for example, as disclosed indetail in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,777,824, issued 1 an. 15, 1957, toHarry R. Leeds. The ink impregnated pad 76 is disposed in a recess 78provided in body 38 between bearer rims 72 at a portion of the bodywhich is substantially diametrically opposed to the location of dieelement 48. If desired, the pad 76 can be substantially flat, as shown,in which case, the sections of the bearer rims 72 extending along thepad 76 are also straight or fiat so that the rollers 60 moving alongsuch sections of the bearer rims will effect rolling contact with pad 76and thereby pick up ink from the latter.

If desired, the circumferential sections of the body 38 extending frompad 76 to die element 48 may be recessed between the bearer rims 72 andhave rubber or other elastic strips 80 cemented thereon, as shown onFIG. 3, to act as metering or ink distributing surfaces.

The above described apparatus operates as follows:

The successive cans or other cylindrical articles rolling along conveyorsurface 14 engage the laterally paired arms 56 of star wheel 52 toeffect rotation of the latter. During such rotation of the star wheel,each of transfer rollers 60 rolls along the ink impregnated pad 76 andthus has ink applied to its surface. As the transfer roller 60 continuesits movement around body 38 in the clockwise direction, as viewed onFIGS. 1 and 3, the surface of the transfer roller having ink appliedthereto rolls along the surface of the rubber strip 80 which therebyserves to meter or effect uniform distribution of the ink on the surfaceof the transfer roller 60. Thereafter, the transfer roller 60 rollsacross the raised or operative surface of the die element 48 for inkingthe latter. It will be seen that each can or cylindrical article rollingover die element 48 and simultaneously driving a laterally aligned pairof arms 56 is immediately preceded across the die element by thetransfer roller 60 carried by the driven arms so that the die element 48is freshly inked just before each rolling contact of a can orcylindrical article therewith, thereby ensuring clear and sharp imprintson each can. At the conclusion of each marking operation, the transferroller 60 which inked the die element for that marking operationcontinues around body 38 and again rolls across pad 76 for receiving inkfrom the latter.

Since the die element 48 is stationary and each of the cans orcylindrical articles merely rolls across or over the die element forreceiving'an inked impression from the latter, the possibility ofrelative movement of the surface of the die element and the surface ofthe can or cylindrical article at the instant of marking does not arise,as contrasted with the situation where the die element is carried by arotatable die wheel which has to be driven at a peripheralspeed equal tothe speed of movement of the article being marked. The fact that the dieelement 48 is stationary has the additional advantage of eliminating theneed for return or repositioning mechanism, as the die element is alwaysproperly located for marking of a can rolling thereover. Further,although the marking apparatus 10 is operated by the successive cans orarticles rolling along conveyor surface 14, it will be apparent thatonly the star wheel 52 is made to move by the driving action of thesuccessive cans, and that the mass of the star wheel may be relativelysmall so as to interpose a minimum resistance to the movement of thecans or cylindrical articles along the conveyor surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the apparatusembodying this invention, which is there generally identified by thereference numeral 10a, is similar to the previously described apparatus10 and has its several parts identified by the same reference numerals,but with the letter a appended thereto. In fact, the apparatus 10adiffers from the apparatus 10 only with respect to the arrangementprovided therein for applying ink or other liquid to each of thetransfer rollers 68a during movement of the latter along a portion ofthe closed path around the body 38a which is remote from the location ofthe die element.

In the apparatus 10a, a porous pad 82 of felt or the like is mounted ona block 84 which is shaped so that the pad 82 will extend parallel tothe path of travel of transfer rollers 60:: during the application ofink or other liquid to the latter. The block 84 is mounted, for example,as hereinafter described in detail, so that the porous pad 82 isarranged along the outside of the path of travel of transfer rollers60a. The mounting for the block 84 may include a bracket 86 extendinglaterally from a plate 88 which depends from one of the angle members26a. Bolts 90 extend loosely through suitable holes in the bracket 86and are screwed into tapped bores opening at the bottom of block 84, andcompression springs 92 are arranged on bolts 90 between brackets 86 andblock 84 to urge the latter upwardly to the extent permitted by theengagement of the heads of bolts 90 with the bottom surface of bracket86. Thus, springs 92 act to urge pad 82 against the successive rollers60a.

In order to supply ink to the pad 82, apparatus 10a has a reservoir 94containing a supply of ink, and which is suitably supported, forexample, on the shelf 96 extending from the bottom of plate 88, so thatthe opening of reservoir 94 is at the top of the latter. A wick 98extends upwardly from reservoir 94 through suitable openings in bracket86 and block 84 and is connected to the porous pad 82 for conducting inkor other liquid from reservoir 94 to the pad 82. Since the wick 98 isflexible, the reservoir 94 can always be mounted on a horizontal supportsurface so as to avoid spilling of ink therefrom, even when theapparatus 19a is associated with an inclined or vertically extendingconveyor surface.

As shown particularly on FIG. 5, the portion of body 38a which isarranged opposite pad 82 may be arcuate,

in which case the pad is also arcuate, or the pad 82 may besubstantially straight or flat, in which case the corresponding portionof body 38a is also flat.

The operation of the apparatus 10a is generally similar to that of theapparatus 16 in that each roller 68a receives ink from the pad 32 whilemoving past the latter, and then inks the operative or raised surface ofthe die element 48a immediately before the rolling contact of a can orother cylindrical article with the die element.

Although illustrative embodiments of this invention have been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying impressions of a liquid substance tosuccesive cylindrical articles rolling along a straight path, saidapparatus comprising a body carrying a die element having a planaroperative surface with a configuration conforming to that of theimpressions to be applied, means supporting said body adjacent saidstraight path with said operative surface of the die element beingdisposed substantially co-planar with said straight path so that, aseach article rolls past said body, the article effects rolling contactwith said operative surface, a star wheel member rotatable about an axisextending through said body and having radial arms dimensioned toproject into said straight path, thereby to be driven by the sucessivearticles rolling along the latter, a plurality of transfer rollers eachrotatably carried by an arm of said star wheel member to move with thelatter along a closed path extending around said body and having aportion at which rollers of the plurality of transfer rollerssuccessively effect rolling contact with said operative surface of thedie element, and a liquid supplying member extending along anotherportion of said closed path remote from the first mentioned portion andat which the rollers successively effect rolling contact with, andreceive liquid from said liquid supplying member, whereby each transferroller sequentially receives liquid from said supplying member andtransfers the liquid to said operative surface for application by thelatter to an article passing said body and driving the star wheelmember.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said liquid supplying memberinclu-des a porous pad impregnated with the liquid and also carried bysaid body.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said liquid supplying member isconstituted by a porous pad arranged at the outside of said closed pathalong said other portion of the latter; and further comprising areservoir containing a supply of the liquid, and a wick member extendingupwardly from said reservoir and connected to said porous pad forconducting liquid to the latter from said supply.

4. An apparatus for applying inked markings to cylindrical articlesrolling along a straight path, said apparatus comprising a body carryinga die element having a planar operative surface with a configurationconforming to that of the impressions to be applied, means supportingsaid body adjacent said straight path with said operative surface of thedie element being disposed substantially co-planar with said straightpath so that, as each article rolls past said body, the article effectsrolling contact with said operative surface, a star wheel memberrotatable about an axis extending through said body and having radialarms dimensioned to project into said straight path, thereby to bedriven by the successive articles rolling along the latter, a transferroller rotatably carried by each of said arms of the star wheel memberand extending parallel with the axis of rotation of the latter to movewith the star wheel member along a closed path which extends around saidbody and conforms to the circumferential shape of the latter so that thearticles effecting rolling contact with said operative surface of thedie element and driving said arms of the star wheel member are precededacross said die element by transfer rollers also making rolling contactwith said operative surface, and ink supplying means extending alongsaid closed path at a portion of the latter remote from said die elementso that each transfer roller moving alon said portion of the closed pathreceives ink from said supplying means for transfer to said operativeurface prior to rolling contact of an article with the latter.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4-; wherein each of said transfer rollers ismounted for limited radial movement with respect to said axis of thestar wheel member; and is provided with spring means urging it radiallyinward, and wherein bearer rims are provided on the sides of said bodyengageable by said rollers under the action of said spring means todefine the configuration of said closed path.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5; wherein said bearer rims aresubstantially fiat at the regions thereof extending along said dieelement.

'7. An apparatus as in claim 6; wherein said bearer rims are also flatat the sections thereof corresponding to said portion of the closed pathalong which the ink supplying means extends.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7; wherein said ink supplying means includesa fiat pad of micro-porous, microreticulated pad of thermoplastic resinimpregnated with ink and situated between said bearer rims on said body.

9. An apparatus as in claim 6; wherein said ink supplying means includesa porous pad extending along said portion of the closed path and spacedoutwardly from said body so that the transfer rollers pass between thelatter and said porous pad and are held in contact with the pad by saidbearer rims, a reservoir containing a supply of ink, and a wickextending upwardly from said reservoir and being connected to said padfor conducting ink to the latter.

10. An apparatus for applying inked impressions to cylindrical articlesas the latter roll past an opening in a straight conveyor surface, saidapparatus comprising a support structure mounted adjacent said openingand being yieldably urged in the direction toward said conveyor surface,a star wheel rotatably mounted in said support structure and includinglaterally spaced side members having paired angularly spaced, radialarms dimensioned to project through said opening for driving engagementby the articles rolling past the opening, a stationary body mounted onsaid support structure between said side members of the star wheel andcarrying a dieelement with raised surface portions lying in a fiatplaneand projecting through said opening for rolling contact bythecylindrical articles, said body including bearer rims.

extending circumferentially therearound at opposite sides of said dieelement and having straight portions extending along the die element,said paired arms of the star wheel having radial slots therein, an inktransfer roller for each pair of arms of the star wheel, said rollerhaving a shaft on which it is rotatable, the end of said shaft beingslid able in said slots of the related pair of arms so that each rolleris movable radially with respect to the axis of the star wheel, springmeans urging each roller radially inward against said bearer ri-ms ofsaid body so that said rollers move along a closed path around said bodyin response to turning of the star wheel, and ink supplying meansextending along a portion of said closed path remote fro-m said dieelement and applying ink to each roller moving along said portion of theclosed path so that, as each pair of arms is driven by a cylindricalarticle, the latter is preceded past said die element by the transferroller carried by that pair of arm and which applies ink to said raisedsurface portions of the die element.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said ink supplying means includesa pad of micro-porous, micro-reticulated thermoplastic resin impregnatedwith ink and also mounted on said body between said bearer rims.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11; wherein said pad is flat and said bearerrims further have fiat portions extending; along said pad.

13. Apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said ink supplying means includesa porous pad mounted at the outside of said closed path and beingresiliently urged toward the latter for contact by said rollers rollingtherepast, a reservoir containing a supply of ink, and a wick projectingupwardly from said reservoir and being connected to said pad forconducting ink to the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,653 12/1897Robinson 101212 X 2,027,102 1/1936 Hommel et al 10140 X 2,427,765 9/1947Chollar 101327 2,442,948 6/1948 Bogoslowsky 101-39 X 2,492,709 12/1949Pannier 101-39 3,072,044 1/1963 Jones 10135 FOREIGN PATENTS 873,1781/1958 Great Britain.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,979 1/1906Richards. 985,479 2/1911 Waller. 1,080,504 12/1913 Vary. 2,015,66910/1935 Gravely et al. 2,624,274 1/ 1953 Harvey. 2,635,533 4/1953Stewart. 2,696,781 12/1954 Hunt.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

PAUL R. WOODS, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING IMPRESSIONS OF A LIQUID SUBSTANCE TOSUCCESSIVE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES ROLLING ALONG A STRAIGHT PATH, SAIDAPPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY CARRYING A DIE ELEMENT HAVING A PLANAROPERATIVE SURFACE WITH A CONFIGURATION CONFORMING TO THAT OF THEIMPRESSIONS TO BE APPLIED, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BODY ADJACENT SAIDSTRAIGHT PATH WITH SAID OPERATIVE SURFACE OF THE DIE ELEMENT BEINGDISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH SAID STRAIGHT PATH SO THAT, ASEACH ARTICLE ROLLS PAST SAID BODY, THE ARTICLE EFFECTS ROLLING CONTACTWITH SAID OPERATIVE SURFACE, A STAR WHEEL MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXISEXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY AND HAVING RADIAL ARMS DIMENSIONED TOPROJECT INTO SAID STRAIGHT PATH, THEREBY TO BE DRIVEN BY THE SUCESSIVEARTICLES ROLLING ALONG THE LATTER, A PLURALITY OF TRANSFER ROLLERS EACHROTATABLY CARRIED BY AN ARM OF SAID STAR WHEEL MEMBER TO MOVE WITH THELATTER ALONG A CLOSED PATH EXTENDING AROUND SAID BODY AND HAVING APORTION AT WHICH ROLLERS OF THE PLURALITY OF TRANSFER ROLLERSSUCCESSIVELY EFFECT ROLLING CONTACT WITH SAID OPERATIVE SURFACE OF THEDIE ELEMENT, AND A LIQUID SUPPLYING MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG ANOTHERPORTION OF SAID CLOSED PATH REMOTE FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED PORTION ANDAT WHICH THE ROLLERS SUCCESSIVELY EFFECT ROLLING CONTACT WITH, ANDRECEIVE LIQUID FROM SAID LIQUID SUPPLYING MEMBER, WHEREBY EACH TRANSFERROLLER SEQUENTIALLY RECEIVES LIQUID FROM SAID SUPPLYING MEMBER ANDTRANSFERS THE LIQUID TO SAID OPERATIVE SURFACE FOR APPLICATION BY THELATTER TO AN ARTICLE PASSING SAID BODY AND DRIVING THE STAR WHEELMEMBER.